SAN JOSE — Christopher didn’t have a whole lot of trouble scoring on Thursday night at Branham High School.
The Cougars did have a bit tougher of a time preventing host Branham from doing the same. The two teams combined for 56 points in the first half, and the score was tied at the halftime break.
But in the second half, only one team did the scoring. That team was Christopher, and 17 unanswered points ensured the Cougars won their Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division opener by a final score of 45-28.
“Our kids stepped up in the second half,” said Cougars coach Adam Hazel. “Played a great game, and super proud of them.”
Christopher’s Evan Vernon (5) hands the ball to a referee after a play during the 2nd half of the Central Coast Section Division II championship football game at San Jose City College, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
One may think that complex defensive adjustments fueled Christopher’s second-half shutout. Not necessarily.
“Really nothing. Just do our job and do it better,” Hazel said. “We fine-tuned a couple things here or there at halftime, but it was mostly little things. They’re excellent. They’re a heck of a football team. Branham, there’s a reason they’re in playoffs year in and year out and they play deep. They’re good. So they got us on some stuff in the first half, and that second half, thankfully, we made some good plays.”
There were plenty of offensive fireworks to go around in the first two quarters. Branham kicked off the pyrotechnics with a defensive play, a fumble recovery on the first play from scrimmage. Six plays later, the Bruins (3-2) were in the end zone on Richard Martin’s 29-yard screen catch-and-run from quarterback Jack Lewis.
Branham’s Jack Lewis (16) is blocked in by multiple Silver Creek defenders during the 1st half of the Branham at Silver Creek BVAL football game at Silver Creek High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 27, 2023. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Christopher (4-1) responded with an 11-yard TD run by Ray Waller, then took the lead on Jaxen Robinson’s 82-yard deep shot to Matthew Boles.
“First of all, it’s all about my O-line right now,” Robinson said. “But second of all, my weapons, Evan Vernon, Matthew Boles, Terrence (Barnes), Salomon (Quintero), all those guys are tremendous for me, helping me make plays every day.”
Branham showcased its playmakers on the next series. A 15-play drive paid off with Lewis’ 2-yard QB run that tied the game at 14.
“It was a great game for us to determine, ‘Hey, do we belong?’ said Bruins coach Stephen Johnson. “To go out there at homecoming, all the pressure, putting on a show for our community, and seeing our guys fight and scrap for four quarters, I’m happy walking away from this game knowing that we belong.”
Branham’s Jake Edwards (62) celebrates with Branham’s Elias Antillon (2) after a touchdown during the 2nd half of the Branham at Silver Creek BVAL football game at Silver Creek High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 27, 2023. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Christopher responded with a seven-play drive that featured multiple long runs by Waller. Robinson got in on the ground attack with a 1-yard sneak to put the visitors back up by a touchdown.
Branham was undeterred. Four quick plays put the Bruins back in the end zone, and Branham finished the drive with a 22-yard connection from Lewis to Zayne St. Laurent.
The first-half point party still wasn’t over. Five plays was all Christopher needed to get back on top, and another 11-yard run by Waller put the Cougars up 28-21.
Branham used every second of the 5:07 remaining for the equalizer before the half. To cap off a 19-play drive in which the Bruins converted two fourth downs, they faced third-and-goal on the 1-yard line with one second remaining.
Branham’s Thomas Nguyen (52) pushes back Silver Creek’s Patrick Pawlicki(4) during the 1st half of the Branham at Silver Creek BVAL football game at Silver Creek High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 27, 2023. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
That wasn’t a problem for Thomas Nguyen. Nguyen, primarily a defensive player at end, took the ball and spun his wheels in the midst of a mass of humanity before penetrating the goal line after multiple efforts. His reward? A 28-28 halftime tie.
“We’re learning how to be an A-league program right now,” Johnson said, “and they had to feel that for once.”
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But the second half, and thus the victory, belonged to the visitors from Gilroy. Christopher flipped the script in the third quarter with an early fumble recovery of its own, then turned the offense loose for another TD. Robinson found Matthew Anderson on an 8-yard rollout toss, and the Cougars were back on top.
Another fourth-down stop gave Christopher a chance to pounce, and the Cougars took full advantage. Robinson hit Anderson down the right sideline for a 60-yard TD and cornered the Bruins with a two-touchdown lead.
A 30-yard late-fourth-quarter field goal by Rylan Antipuesto sealed the win for Christopher.